Vasanthi night frog can't hop for long. Kodayar dancing frog's feet have lost their rhythm. These amphibian species are struggling to survive in some pockets of the Western Ghats.

Found near brooks, Vasanthi night frog gets its name from its habits and dark colour. Not only is it finding it difficult to survive in patches of Kalakad
Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, but is also facing problems on the reproduction front.

Ditto with the
Kodayar dancing frog -the breadth and overlap of its `niche' (the area the dancing frog can inhabit, survive and successfully reproduce) is found to be altered. Scientists studying frog species blame the problems on selective logging (clearing of woods) in these forest areas. The process was initiated about 40 years ago but even today, it's taking a toll on the amphibian population.

Scientist Seshadri KS said they examined several impacts of selective log ging on amphibian populations in southern Western Ghats. “KMTR was selectively logged about 40 years ago. It was later protected and the forests have regenerated since then. But the
vegetation structure of dominant tree species in selectively logged forests shows noticeable differences,“ he added. The study was undertaken in col laboration with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Envi ronment, Bangalore (Atree). It com pared the richness, density, niche breadth and niche overlap of amphibian species in selectively logged
areas, with those found in unlogged forests to reach a vital conclusion -diversity is significantly higher in unlogged patches.

While Vasanthi night frog had no presence in selectively logged forests, Bob Inger's Bush frog, a canopy frog, was also found to be affected.

The amphibian population in selectively logged areas is nowhere close
to that in unlogged forests, despite the 40-year gap.

“It could be due to several factors alteration of micro climate, changes in availability of moisture, increased sed imentation resulting in turbid streams and the reduction in leaf litter. It could also be due to the reduction of canopy cover creating fluctuation in local tem perature,“ explained Seshadri.